Automatic acetylene-gas machine



No. 609,226. Patented Aug. I6, I898. C. S. BURTON.

AUTOMATIC ACETYLENE GAS MACHINE,

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1896.)

(No Model.)

Illl l llll l) NlTED STATES PA T men.

CHARLES S. BURTON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,226, dated August.16, 1898. Application filed November 23, 1896. Serial No. 613,051. (Nomodel.)

companying drawing, forming a part thereof.

In the drawing the figure is a vertical section of my improvedgas-machine. 1

This invention relates to machines in and by means of which gas isgenerated by means of a union of a liquid and solid. The most familiarinstance of this sort is acetylene gas made by the use of calcic carbidand water as the solid and liquid, respectively; and in the followingspecification I describe my invention with reference specifically tothis gas and these elements as a means of making it; but I do not intendthereby to be limited to the use of the machine with Water and oarbid ofcalcium, although these elements are used in the description forconvenience.

This machine comprises an ordinary telescoping gas-holder with waterseal, A being the lower or fixed section and B the upper or movingsection.

A pipe C extends up through the bottom of the fixed section, terminatingabove the Water-line.

A siphon D is mounted on and carried by the moving section, having alimb D protruding down within the upper open mouth of the pipe 0, theother limb D extending to any convenient depth in the water, and formaximum utility it may extend substantially or nearly to the level ofthe lower open mouth of the moving section.

A check-valve D is necessary at some point in the siphon, opening in adirection to permit the water to pass through the siphon into the limb Dand out through the limb D. It is most conveniently located at the topof the siphon, as illustrated. Preferably the siphon is made to extendboth limbs through the top of the section B, so that all necessaryvalves can be locked outside the holder.

A three-Way cock D is located at the top of the limb D and adapted to beset so as to form part of the siphon-passage and not open Otherwise orso as to close the siphon-passage and also a passage upward to thefunnel D The purpose of this valve is toafford means for shutting offthe siph0n-passage entirely or opening it for priming through the funnel D The pipe 0 below the holder is provided with a gate-valve O, andbelow said valve it opens into a pocket E, which constitutes thegenerating-chamber. This pocket E is the vertical limb of a Y, whoseoblique limb E constitutes the discharge from the carbid= magazineEiwhich, as illustrated, is a vertical cylinder extending up alongsidethe holder and provided at the top with a cover E, which is set in theannular pocket E sur rounding the top of the magazine, said pocket beingfi-lled with liquid and constituting a liquid seal for the cover.

At the bottom of the generating-chamberE is a grate or perforated platec, and below said chamber E is an ash-receiver F, provided with ashut-off gate or valve F at the bottom. The pipe 0 may have a perforatedterminal 0 below the valve 0 and protruding centrally within thechamberE for a purpose which will be hereinafter fully explained.

E is a vent-cock attached to the cover E and connected by aflexible'pipe e to any convenient fiue. E" is an inlet ventilator ordraft cock controlling an inlet for air into the lower part of thegenerating-chamber E. The use of these cocks F and E will be hereinafter explained.

G is the service-pipe, which leads from the gas-space of the holder, andH is a guide-pipe made rigid with the, top of the section B of theholder, the pipe G entering said guidepipe and having a collar G, whichfits the latter, a bushing II' being also provided at the lower end ofthe pipe H, fitting the pipe G, so that the two pipes telescope onewithin the lower mouth of the branch D of the siphon below thewater-level in the holder, the siphon being primed through the funnel Dand the valve D being then set so as to shut off the funnel, but openthe siphon-passage, water will pass through the siphon and be dischargedfrom the mouth of the branch D, falling through the pipe into thechamber E, the valve 0 being opened. If there be carbid of calcium inthe chamber, gas will be immediately generated by the contact of thewater with the carbid of calcium and will pass back through the pipe C,the water falling.

therein in drops or a slender stream, offering no essential obstruction,and will first displace the air in the holder and then pass out throughthe service-pipe G for consumption.

7 So long as the consumption equals the supply generated the holder willremain expanded to the point which will cause the siphon to dischargethe amount of water which is necessary to generate the amount of gaswhich is being consumed. If the amount of gas generated exceeds theconsumption, the holder will expand and the siphon be lifted andimmediately cease to discharge water into the generating-chamber, thuscausing the production of gas to cease until the consumption overtakesthe supply and the holder collapses enough to bring the siphondischarge-mouth again below the water-level. Thus in practice the holderWill stand expanded to an extent which will cause the discharge-mouth ofthe siphon to vibrate slightly past the waterline, passing below it andrising above it only sufficiently to discharge water and interrupt thedischarge, as required.

The perforated terminal 0 of the pipe C, within the chamber E, preventsthe carbid descending through the branch E from piling up through thetop of the chamber, making the carbid below the end of the perforatedterminal and directly upon which the water falls of less depth than itwould otherwise be and leaving a gas-space above it around the terminal,so that the gas escapes more freely, passing through the perforations ofsaid terminal. The terminal is not essential, however, and may beomitted. In order to increase the generating capacity of the device, itmay be important that the water, which for rapid generation will bedelivered in a continuous slender stream, shall be dispersed over aslarge a quantity of carbid as possible, and so have opportunity to actupon the carbid to generate gas therefrom before it can escape throughthe grate. For this purpose a bar a maybe extended across the mouth ofthe terminal 0, onto which the water will fall and into which it will bedispersed in a spray over the carbid.

As the calcic carbid is dissolved by themtion of the water in generatinggas the residuum passes through the grate e, mingled with an excess ofwater sufficient to make it moderately fluid, and the place vacatedabove the grate is taken by a fresh supply of carbid sliding down thebranch E of the Y from the carbid-magazine, operating somewhat after themanner of a self-feedin g coal-stove. The residuum can be removed fromthe resid uumreceptacle F at any time without permitting the escape ofgas by merely first closing the valve 1) and then the valve 0, saidvalve 0 cutting off all gas communication with the holder and the valveD preventing the discharge of water into the pipe 0 while the valve 0 isshut. This leaves only the gas which may be in the magazine to beprovided for, and this is cleared out by opening a valve E and the ventor draft valve E, which controls a passage leading into the lower partof the generating-chamber E. The gas in the magazine being lighter thanair, the opening of these two valves will permit the air to force thegas out upwardly into the ventilating-flue, which will be accomplishedin a few seconds, after which, the gate or valve F being opened, theresiduum may be drawn out in a semiliquid condition without the escapeof any troublesome quantity of gas, The same method will be followedwhen it is desired to replenish the supply of carbid in the magazine,the cover E being removed for the purpose.

The whole process of withdrawing the ash or replenishing the carbid willoccupy but a few seconds, so that the interruption of the process ofgeneration during that time causes no inconvenience, the supply in theholder being'ample for a very much longer time.

Suitable means for maintaining the watersupply in the holder may beadded to avoid the necessity of replenishing that supply by hand orotherwise periodically-for example, a stand-pipe K on a supply-pipeK,which latter leads into the holder, the stand-pipe having an overflowat the level necessary to maintain the desired level in the holderthatis,as much higher than the inner liquidlevel of the holder as necessaryto measure the desired pressure to be maintained on the gas. The valve Kwhich controls the supply, will in such case be set so as to admitcontinuously, as nearly as can be calculated, the amount of water whichcan be taken out by the siphon to produce gas.

A few experiments will determine in each instance the proper adjustmentof the valve, and a gage-glass K on the stand-pipe will show at alltimes the height that the valve may be adjusted according to therequirements.

Some of the advantages of this construction are that the water isdischarged always upon a fresh quantity of carbid, so that the responseis at all times prompt and at all times substantially equally prompt.Also,

to the full extent of the capacity of the pipe 0 gas may be generated inthe holder, the quantity of water discharged determining the rate ofgeneration and this quantity in turn being determined by the rate ofconsumption, the more rapid consumption permitting the holder tocollapse a little more and remaincollapsed longer or continuously if theconsumption continuously equals the product of gas with a continuousdischarge of water. From this it results that a very much smaller holdercan be employed for furnishing a large quantity of gas than in the caseof machines in which the rate of production or generation of the gasdecreases as the original charge of carbid becomes weakened. to removethe residuum or replenish the carbid at any time without eitherinterrupting the supply of gas or waiting for the exhaustion of theprevious charge will be obvious.

I claim-- 1. In a gas-machine in which an expansible holder is suppliedwith gas from a generating-chamber; a passage leading from the gasspaceof theholder downward and terminating in the generating chamber; asiphon which is raised and lowered by expansion and collapse of theholder, one end of such siphon being immersed and open in the liquidthroughout all the fluctuations of the holder, and the other endterminating in said passage; and suitable means to prevent the fiow ofliquid through said siphon toward the immersed end.

2. In agas'machine, in which an expansible liquid-sealed gas-holder issupplied with gas from a generating-chamber, in combination with suchholderand chamber, a siphon which is raised and lowered by the expansionand collapse of the holder, having one end immersed and open in the sealliquid of the holder throughout all the expanding and collapsingmovements of the latter, the other end being adapted to discharge intothe duct or port of gas communication between the generatingchamber andthe holder.

3. In a gas-machine in which an expansible holder is supplied with gasfrom the generating-chamber; such holder and chamber and a source ofliquid, combined with a siphon which is raised and lowered by theexpansion and collapse of the holder, one end of the siphon beingimmersed and open in the liquid throughout all the expanding andcollapsing movements of the holder, the other end being adapted todischarge through the port or passage of gas communication between thegenerator and the holder.

4. In a gas-machine in which an expansible liquid-sealed holder issupplied with gas from a generating-chamber, such holder and chambercombined with a duct or passage which is open at its upper end in thegas-space of the holder, and which terminates at the other end in thegenerating-chamber; and a siphon which is raised and lowered by theexpanding and collapsing movements of the holder having one end immersedin the seal liquid of the holder throughout all the expanding andcollapsing movements of said holder, and having the other end open andadapted to dis charge into said passage. I

5. In a gas machine, an expansible holder The advantage because of beingable constructed to contain liquid and gas-space above the liquid; ageneratingchamber oommunicatin g with the gas-space of the holder, and asiphon having one limb extending into the liquid of the holder and theother limb extending within the gas-communicatin g passage from thegenerating chamber to the holder and adapted to be lowered therein bythe collapse of the holder; and means for preventing backflow toward thelimb which is immersed in the liquid.

6. In a gas-machine, an expansible holder constructed to contain liquidand gas-space above the liquid; a generating-chamber communicating withthe gas-space of the holder; a siphon attached to the moving elementofthe holder having one limb immersed in the liquid and the other limbprotruding within the gas-communicating passage leading from thegenerator, and a check-valve in said siphon arranged to prevent backflowtherethrough into the liquidimmersed end.

7. In combination with a telescoping gasholder, a gas duct leading upthrough the water-space thereof and open in the gas-space above thesame, and a generating-chamber into which said gas-duct opens at thelower end; a magazine exterior to the holder and a passage leading fromthe magazine to the generating-chamber adapted to conduct by gravityfragmentary solid matter from the magazine to the generating-chamber,and suitable means by which the collapse of the holder causes water tobe delivered into said gas-duct.

8. In a gas-machine for making gas by the action of liquid upon a solid,in combination with a gas-holder, a magazine for the solid located outof the path of the gas to and from the holder; a generating-chamber anda conduit leading laterally thereinto, through which conduit the solidin fragments is delivered by gravity from the magazine to thegenerating-chamber; a grate which restrains the movement of the solidinto the generating-chamber; a source of liquid, and a duct by whichsuch liquid may reach the generating-chamber and act upon the solidstopped by the grate; a receptacle into which the liquid and residuum ofthe solid may flow upon passing the grate, and a gas-duct leading from apoint in the generating-chamber at which the liquid encounters the solidon the grate into the gas-holder.

9. In a gas-machine, in combination with the gas-holder, a magazine forsolid matter from which the gas is to be generated wholly exterior tothe gas-holder 5 a generating-chamber connected with the magazine andwith the gas space of the holder; and suitable means for deliveringwater to such generator, the magazine having an air-vent at the top, andthe generator having an air-inlet near the bottom, and a valve in theduct which connects the generator with the holder, whereby saidlast-mentioned valve being closed,

or lower air-inlet cock controlling ancairpassage into the generator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twowitnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day of November, 1896.

CHAS. s. BURTON.

Witnesses: I

JEAN ELLIOTT, BERTHA 0. SIMS.

